On Monday, 6 October 2025, at 14:30, an event marking European Carers Day took place at the Office of the European Parliament in Greece, in Athens, as well as online.
This year’s theme highlighted the contribution of migrant care workers, on whom millions of families across Europe rely every day.
Despite their essential role, migrant carers often remain “invisible”, without sufficient legal protection, social recognition, or decent working conditions.
Under the motto “Let’s make migrant care visible, respected and protected”, this year’s campaign called on public authorities and society to acknowledge their contribution, invest in quality and accessible long-term care services, and develop inclusion policies that ensure decent work and social rights for all.
The event opened with greetings from institutional representatives.
Speakers included Mr. Konstantinos Tsoutsoplidis, Head of the European Parliament Office in Greece, Ms. Elena Kountoura, Member of the European Parliament, and Mr. Stelios Kympouropoulos, psychiatrist and former Member of the European Parliament.
Further remarks were made by Ms. Panagiota Manou, Head of the Directorate for Disability Policies at the General Secretariat for Social Solidarity and Poverty Alleviation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, and Ms. Elsa Dimopoulou, Psychologist–Psychotherapist, Head of the Psychological Department in the Office of the Deputy Regional Governor for Health of the Region of Attica.
In the main part of the conference, Dr. Menelaos Theodoroulakis, PhD in Social Policy, President of PEPSAEE and the ARGO Federation, presented the challenges and prospects of psychiatric reform in Greece.
Next, psychiatrist Dr. Stella Stathoulopoulou spoke about autism in later life, highlighting challenges and opportunities for innovative care practices.
Dr. Elizabeth Mestheneos, sociologist and researcher with international academic experience, analyzed employment policies, wage inequalities, and the role of migrants in the care sector, both in Greece and across the EU.
Then, Ms. Anastasia (Nansia) Gatopoulou, Advisor at the WHO Office in Athens, discussed the importance of collaboration with informal carers to improve the quality of mental health care.
Mr. Christos Prapas, Lecturer at the University of West Attica, presented the collaboration between informal carers and health professionals to promote community health.
Ms. Dimitra Karteri, Social Worker and Scientific Director of a Supported Apartment of PESOPSY, and Ms. Yro Litsaki, Psychologist at the PESOPSY Day Centre, shared a practical and emotional perspective on carers’ support groups through real-life experiences.
Finally, Ms. Alexandra Katsouli, General Secretary of the NGO EREISMA, Psychologist and Criminologist (MSc), discussed how caregiving can act as a factor of social cohesion, giving a more human dimension to the discussion.
The event was held under the auspices of the European Parliament Office in Greece, the Region of Attica, the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, and the European Federation Eurocarers.
Media sponsors included Daily Pharma News, Psychology Now, and Iatronet.
The Greek Carers Network EPIONI warmly thanks the First Panhellenic Association of Families for Mental Health (PESOPSY) for their collaboration in organizing the event, as well as all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions to its success.